The Tantalising Taste Of Water (Elemental Awakening, Book 4)

by Nicola Claire

  And Mark would never be her lost Theo.

  “What do you plan?” Nico asked, coming alongside us.

  “I’m going to raise them from the ground,” I said.

  Nico whistled, Aktor wrung his hands. Sonya just gaped.

  I rolled my shoulders, stretched my neck, and flexed my fingers. I felt like a boxer limbering up for a fight. Somehow that analogy fit. This was going to be a battle. If hundreds of Gi couldn’t persuade their Stoicheio to raise them from their protective pit beneath the earth, then how the hell was I going to achieve it?

  I closed my eyes and sent a prayer up to Aetheros. I had no idea if the Athanatos god was listening, but it couldn’t hurt to try. And I needed all the help I could get.

  Crouching down I touched the ground, digging my fingers into it, letting my Stoicheio touch me. I welcomed the familiar flow of Earth’s strength, the sweet scent of vegetation, the rich smells of a rainforest. I could almost imagine the Amazon still being here, but hidden behind an impenetrable layer. So close, but just out of reach. I think it was worse to imagine that impossibility than face the reality that it was gone forever.

  I stretched my senses deeper, into the ground itself, seeking out the Gi, making sure they were still all right. It had been weeks since Genesis had started. And for all we knew, they’d been buried at the very beginning, when Genesis had struck. I was not surprised, then, to find them weak and failing. They couldn’t die, unless Earth severed their heads - and I couldn’t see that happening - but they were feeding only their Stoicheio, not their human bodies, and so they had weakened considerably because of it.

  Maybe that was why they weren’t at full Elemental power. We must feed both sides of ourselves, human and Ekmetalleftis, in order to thrive. Why had Earth not released them? Why contain them here for so long?

  Why? I asked, clenching my fist in the dirt.

  Save us, Aether, Earth cried.

  And it was Earth, not the Gi people calling out for help this time. It was my Earth, the same plea it had given when I’d left the Amazon last time. I’d promised I’d return, and here I was. But I had no idea how to put this right.

  First I needed to free the Gi. Then I’d see what damage had been done.

  I’m here, I said softly inside my mind. Earth sighed.

  I let out my own breath of air and stood, blinking in the bright sunlight. My eyes had been closed while I’d communed with Gi and checked on its people. The sun had risen considerably during that time. It bore down on top of my head, now, with a heat that stole all energy.

  I focused my attention on the ground, ignoring the will-sapping heat. I was the only one of us with access to Gi. I had to do this despite the uncomfortable conditions. Even Mark, an Alchemist in possession of two borrowed Stoicheio, couldn’t command Earth and help me. But I did have a Thisavros connection which could boost my Stoicheio when needed. Even though Theo was Pyrkagia, his strength would bolster mine.

  But I worried it wouldn’t be enough. If the Gi couldn’t crawl out of their covered pits en masse, then I needed Earth’s help.

  We need to release them, I said to Earth.

  Save us, Aether, Earth replied.

  I need you to help me to do that, I urged.

  We are dying, Earth said. We are almost dead.

  A chill washed down my spine. Earth, I was sure, had not been speaking of its people. But of itself.

  I took a step backwards as if trying to escape a fate worse than death. My heart beat a sudden thump of anxiety. My breaths came in little pants of air. I think my eyes might have widened to the size of dinner plates as I stared at the ground in supreme mortification.

  “Casey?” Theo called off to my side.

  How soon? I asked Earth, accepting Theo’s fingers in mine. I gripped him tightly.

  The journey’s end is near, Earth said softly inside my mind.

  The journey’s end is near. Hadn’t the shaman said the same thing? What was it?

  “Hip?” I said urgently.

  “I am here, Aether.”

  “What did your grandfather say to me on our last visit? About journey’s end?”

  Hip frowned for a moment and then said, “Oh, you mean the foretelling of Aether’s journey’s end?” I nodded, my body numb. “Ah, let me see. ‘Eternal Aether rest here, your journey’s end on earth is near.’” He offered a beatific smile, proud of his recitation.

  I took another step back, my hand still in Theo’s, my palm sweaty, my head shaking back and forth, panic, I was sure, shining in my eyes.

  “Cassandra,” Theo said sharply. “Breathe.”

  I sucked in air that felt scorched and dry, barren and desolate like the soil beneath my feet.

  “Casey,” Theo urged. “What is it?”

  What is it? This was the end. This was where Aether would make her sacrifice. To save the Gi. Because without the Gi there can be no balance. Without all four Elements, there can be no saving of the world, no return of Aetheros.

  I was going to have to sacrifice myself. My life. Hip had been wrong. So very, very wrong. This wasn’t a small thing.

  “I…” I started, and then licked my lips and tried to swallow. It made my throat stick, and I started coughing. Theo presented me with a water bottle, which I gratefully took, not so much to quench any thirst, but delay the inevitable.

  “Now,” he said, brushing hair out of my face, “tell me what has upset you.”

  “Earth,” I said, suddenly needing to sit down.

  “Earth?” he queried. “What has this to do with the shaman’s riddle.”

  “Earth is dying.” Theo held my gaze with complete focus. His thumbs rubbing over the backs of my hands where he gripped them. Anchoring me. Soothing me. When nothing else could. “It says its journey’s end is near.”

  It took a second, maybe two, but then he sucked in a sharp breath of air, his nostrils flaring, gold shining briefly in his eyes. He was trying not to alarm me with his reaction, but it was too late, I was majorly alarmed. My journey’s end is near.

  “I don’t understand,” Sonya said uncertainly off to the side. She’d crept closer, along with Aktor and Nico. I noticed the concerned look in the old butler’s eyes, the wealth of feeling not quite hidden there. Nico looked stoic, but he understood as well.

  I couldn’t look at them. I turned my head and accidentally found the hazel eyes of Isadora. She held my gaze with a steady one; part comprehension, part acknowledgement. She didn’t blink. She didn’t sneer. She offered strength when others were emotional.

  “Case?” Mark said softly, drawing my attention away from the not-so-bitch-cow. “Are you sure that’s what it said?”

  I nodded my head stiffly.

  “And the shaman?” he pressed, looking toward Hip.

  Hip, for his part, looked a little confused. As if he couldn’t believe this was what his grandfather’s riddle had meant. As if he felt let down by this discovery.

  “Yes,” he managed to say in a rough voice. “It is as Aether has said.”

  And as Hip had too, reciting his grandfather’s foretelling.

  Eternal Aether rest here, your journey’s end on earth is near.

  “Oh, freaking hell,” Sonya muttered, wiping at her eyes surreptitiously. Nico wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She began to sob quietly, so he turned her away.

  “Then you will not do this,” Pisces suddenly said from where he’d been watching; his phone conversation with his father obviously long over. I hadn’t seen him put the satellite phone away. But then I hadn’t seen him grab one before we left Atlantis either.

  “I have to,” I told him.

  “You do not. You are Aether. Your role is to balance the Elements. You can do this without the Gi.”

  I shook my head.

  “You are Gi,” he argued. “You can fill that void.”

  “Not on my own.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because the world is bigger than me. Because Aetheros needs harmony and balance in or
der to return. One Gi and how many Nero? How many Pyrkagia? How many Aeras? That is not harmony nor balance.”

  “But you are strong,” Pisces rumbled.

  I hadn’t ever been strong as a human. Hadn’t been powerful, either. I’d been fit and able, capable and competent. But I hadn’t been strong. And the only power I’d wielded was over deli sandwiches. This was bigger than me.

  I shook my head sadly. Theo let out a low growl of frustration, his arm around my shoulders tightening.

  “I do not believe this,” Pisces grumbled.

  “It has to be,” I said finally, and pushed myself upright. Theo reluctantly let his arm fall from my shoulder, but he didn’t step away from my side.

  “I will be with you,” he said, his voice rough like gritty sandpaper. “Eternally.”

  I wasn’t sure he was capable of saying more words than that.

  Are you ready? I asked Earth.

  Always, Aether, it replied.

  I held my hand out to Theo and then looked at the faces of my family. I allowed myself a moment to settle my gaze on each one. Sonya, who had been my friend the longest. Who had been dragged into this preternatural world and somehow still lived. I offered her a courageous smile, trying to reassure with that one last glance. My eyes found Nico next. He saw what I silently asked. His head nodded, just once, short and sharp, and then his arm wrapped again around Sonya’s shoulders. He’d take care of her. Continue to protect her. The fragile human in the middle of this Elemental war.

  Aktor was to Sonya’s other side, and his ancient eyes met mine next. His hands shook slightly as if he wanted to reach out toward me. Comfort me. Offer me a sip of ouzo and a canapé of some sort. Always providing. I smiled a sweet smile for Theo’s old butler and watched as a tear slowly rolled down his wrinkled cheek.

  Isadora’s gaze was steady and filled with compassion. Compassion she barely let me see. Thankfully she didn’t let her eyes dart toward Theo eagerly. But stared at me instead with the look of a soldier. The look of a soldier facing another soldier before battle. And imminent death. She nodded her head and then looked away, allowing me to move on.

  My brother was pacing, trying futilely, no doubt, to figure out an alternate plan. If Theo hadn’t come up with one - and I was certain my Thisavros was silently trying - then Mark was shit out of luck on that front. He stopped walking and turned to look at me, white and ice-blue flaring in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but instead shook his head forlornly and kicked at the dirt. He’d known longer than anyone here that I was Aether. Maybe not what it would entail, but that I couldn’t avoid whatever it would mean. I could sense his helplessness. His total lack of hope.

  It almost crushed me.

  I met both Hip’s and Pisces’ eyes then, both now part of my team. Pisces was agitated. Hip was preoccupied. But both took the time to meet my gaze and offer their solidarity.

  Finally, I looked up at Theo. Gold blazed from his eyes. Pyrkagia thrummed in the air between us. I reached out and stroked his stubbled cheek, letting his Stoicheio lovingly embrace me.

  “This can’t be how it ends,” he murmured, his hand coming forward and resting against my belly. A soft sob escaped my lips.

  This was no small thing Aetheros asked of me. I didn’t want to die. But my child? Oh, how cruel fate could be. I shook with rage and fear. Fear for Theo, because how could he go on if we were lost to him? Rage, because this was simply too much to bear.

  If I could have, I would have cursed the heavens. Shot a bolt of lightning up Aetheros’ butt. Stormed and raged. Created a Genesis all of my own.

  But if any of these people standing here with me were to go on and live, I had to do this. We had to do this. My hand came to rest over Theo’s on my stomach, and I said softly, “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry you didn’t get to see the world. I’m sorry you were brought this far into it only to suffer. I’m sorry I couldn’t find another way.

  Theo let out a shout of pure agony, pulling me to him, crushing me to his chest. Pyrkagia flared. Flames erupted around us. The dry earth became scorched land. I could hear Sonya screaming, Nico shouting, Aktor saying something instructional. Probably, Run! Our friends scattered as Theo let his fury consume him. Holding me protected in his embrace.

  I let him burn. I let him rage. I let him pull on every ounce of his Stoicheio in frustration and loss and heartache. And then I tapped into it. Connecting through our Thisavros link. Pulling on his enormous Elemental power; the power of an Elemental Prince.

  And directed it toward the sand at our feet.

  Rise! I called out inside my mind. Be free! Emerge from your prison! Rise, Gi!

  The ground shook, the world tilted on its axis, the sound of earth moving and rocks grinding and the world being torn apart deafened our ears. We staggered, but still Theo fed me his energy. Flames licked into the bright blue sky. Heat flared around our bodies. My clothes started to burn. My skin might have blistered. But it was the Earth’s cry of pain that I felt. Not the fire.

  Earth’s agony blazed through me, buckling my legs, bowing my back, making me scream.

  It is not enough! Earth cried out inside my mind, almost fracturing reality for me. My head pounded, my brain felt as though it was splitting apart. For a second, I thought Aetheros might be present.

  But there were no stars.

  Then everything broke apart in a shower of sparks like an exploded campfire and the ground slowly stopped rolling until all was quiet.

  Dust settled, showing Mark and Pisces running towards us, as the others lay in various undignified heaps on the still packed earth. And not a Gi to be seen for miles and miles.

  “Shit,” I said, slumping over slightly. Theo supported most of my weight, but he looked as drained as me. “It didn’t work.”

  “Aether!” Pisces roared.

  “Casey?” Mark asked more quietly.

  “What a waste of freaking time!” I grumbled.

  I was so damn tired now and out of options.

  Earth? I called silently.

  Oh, Aether. It ends now.

  No! No, I wouldn’t let it.

  Mark was helping Theo to his feet, who was trying to help me up off the ground as well, as Pisces appeared on my other side, equally as helpful, too. Hands and arms everywhere, not to mention legs and boots and backpacks…and Pisces’ spear.

  I stared at the tip as it hung over his shoulder, pointed toward the ground. People were helping me to my feet, but all I could see was the tip of Pisces’ spear. Sharp enough to impale an Alchemist.

  I was tired. I was scared if I was honest. If we didn’t do this now, would I have the courage to try again?

  I doubted it. Theo’s pain was too real. I’d felt it.

  I didn’t look at anyone. I didn’t allow myself that luxury. I couldn’t. Bravery was but a fleeting thing.

  Be strong. Be true. Be well. Be brave. Know this is not the sum of your days.

  I reached out and gripped Pisces’ spear at its tip and then let the sharp edge cut me. A deep slice appeared in my palm and ran down the length of my forearm as I jerked my hand back on a hiss of pain. Blood welled, as Theo roared and Pisces jumped back as though he’d been shot. Or stabbed. Or inadvertently gravely wounded his precious Aether.

  I slumped to the ground cradling my arm as Aktor ran over and Theo collapsed to his knees beside me, frantically tearing off strips of fabric from his shirt as my blood spurted out in a kind of slow motion.

  I’d nicked an artery.

  I watched it spray, then flexed my fingers, creating a fist that hurt like hell. And then kept pumping them through gritted teeth. Blood pooled on my clothing, and with the last of my effort, I scrabbled to move it, trying to make a clear path to the ground beneath.

  “Stop, Casey!” Theo ordered. “Stay still.”

  I rolled over instead, the movement excruciating. Unconsciousness hovering at the edges. And watched through dimming vision as my blood arced through the air to land gracefully on the dry dirt.<
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  And then Earth exploded.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Come And Get Me

  “Stop it!” someone was yelling. No screaming. Above a god-awful amount of noise. “Make it stop! It’s killing her!”

  “I can’t,” a frantic voice almost wailed. Loud enough to hear over thunder booming. Or was that rocks colliding? “It’s too strong. Too desperate.”

  “It’s going to drain her dry!”

  The ground shook. Someone screamed.

  “Do you think I don’t know that?”

  A rolling wave lifted me up and slammed me back down.

  “Then grip the cut more firmly. Staunch the flow.”

  “Watch out! Incoming!”

  An enormous crash sounded out off to the side. Thunderous. Earthquake sized.

  “It’s no use.” Hands grabbed me. My arm ached. But it was nothing to the agony I felt inside. “Earth is making her bleed through the bandage. Nothing I do will stop the flow of blood.”

  A loud crack drowned out someone’s reply.

  “Bloody hell, is that a tree?”

  A ripping sound started up, followed by a series of pops and crashes. The soothing scent of Earth invaded.

  “Aetheros,” someone said in awe. “It’s regrowing.”

  Birdsong. Or a sharp caw in my ears. I shook my head. The noise grew louder. The buzz of a bee followed it.

  “Oh my God! Look at that!” a woman exclaimed.

  “Casey?”

  So tired.

  “Oraia?”

  Hurting.

  “Casey!”

  Just…

  And then it all returned. In a crushing wave of sensations that threatened to break my mind.

  I groaned. Rolled over, pressing something against my stinging arm. The groan became a grunt of pain and nausea welled up inside.

  “There you are,” a familiar voice intoned. “You had me worried, Oraia.”

  “Sick,” I managed, before what little I had left in my stomach emerged.